Weekly Bible Study Review

Weekly Bible Study Review

April 17, 2011

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In This Issue

Cafe Class

Read-to-Believe Class

Dichotomy of the Week

Class Schedule
Go to www.theocentrix.org click on the "Events" tab
for maps and more information.

Cafe Class
Culture Cafe
1359 N Altadena Drive
Pasadena CA 91104
Wednesdays 10:00 am

Read-to-Believe Class
Lake Avenue Church
Family Life Room 201
309 N Lake Avenue
Pasadena CA 91101
Thursdays 6:30 pm

Arbo Class
LA County Arboretum
301 N Baldwin Ave
Arcadia CA 91007
Saturday 12:00 noon
Once per month

January 22

February 26

March 26

April 30

May no class
June 4
July 9
August 13
September 17
October 15
November 12
December no class

PCC Class
"How to Read the Bible with Confidence"
Pasadena City College
Extended Learning Center
www.pcclearn.org
July 19 and 26, 2011

REMINDERS

Arbo Bible Study

It's time to RSVP for the Arboretum lunch and Bible study coming up on Saturday, April 30th.

Cost: Free

Click here to RSVP.

Greetings!

This newsletter is sent to everyone who attends Sandy's weekly Bible studies. The left column has a table of contents and the current class schedule. Be sure to watch for the links in each article. Clicking on them will lead you to charts, diagrams and additional articles related to your class.

Anyone can subscribe to this free newsletter by using the link in the upper left corner. If you would like to forward this issue to a friend all you have to do is click on the link below.

Wednesday Cafe Class
Romans

Romans 3:21-4:6

3:21 A righteousness (Jesus) from God, apart from the law has been made known. The Law of Moses and the OT prophets testify (serve as witnesses) that this righteousness (Jesus) is righteousness and that it is from God.

v. 22 This righteousness comes only through faith in Jesus, not through Jesus and the Law or Jesus and something else. It's through Jesus alone. This righteousness comes to all (Jews and Gentiles) who believe that Jesus is who He claims to be and that He's done what He says He's done. It's not enough to just believe that there's a God out there somewhere. Faith in Christ is quite specific.

v. 23-24 There's no difference between Jews and Gentiles. They've all sinned and they're all justified (made righteous in God's sight) the exact same way-- through faith in Christ.

v. 25-26 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement. The NIV says an alternate translation of that phrase is that God presented Christ as "the one who would turn aside His wrath, taking away sin." Many sins were committed prior to Christ's death on the cross but in His "forbearance" (patient endurance, self-control) God hadn't yet punished people for all those sins. God presented Christ in order to "demonstrate His justice" (notice Paul says God's justice, not His love) "so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." It's very important for God to be a just judge. He must not be too strict or too lenient.

Click to read more...

Thursday Read-to-Believe Class Acts

Acts 1:1-2:47

Acts was written by Luke, a Gentile physician who is not one of the original 12 apostles. He also wrote the Gospel of Luke. Acts is not a letter. It's a narrative which gives an account of some of ministry of Peter and Paul. It's not an exhaustive account of all the work done by the apostles.

The four gospels tell the story of Jesus' life and ministry. The epistles, beginning with Romans, give direct instruction to believers regarding the major doctrines of Christianity and how to function as the Church. Acts is perfectly situated between the Gospels and the epistles. It serves as a bridge to help us understand how the gospel message spread beyond Jerusalem and how the early Church operated.

We began class by reading Luke 24:30-53 which ends with Jesus being taken up into heaven.

1:1-3 Acts begins with Luke mentioning his former book (Gospel of Luke) and he explains to Theophilus (his benefactor) that it was about "all that Jesus began to do and to teach" until He was taken to heaven. Jesus didn't finish all His work on earth. His work would continue through His apostles and the Holy Spirit. Jesus appeared to these men for 40 days and proved that He was alive. He spoke to them about the kingdom.

v. 4-11 Jesus told them not to leave Jerusalem but wait until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. They asked Him if He was now going to restore the kingdom to Israel. Remember, this is what they were expecting Jesus to do before He was crucified. He told them it was not for them to know when this would happen. But they would receive power and be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Then He was taken up and hidden by a cloud. Two men dressed in white told them that "this same Jesus" would come back in the same way they'd seen Him go.

Click to read more...

Dichotomy of the Week

There are many dichotomies in the Bible. A dichotomy divides people into two groups that do not overlap. In other words, it's impossible for a person to be in both groups at the same time. Here's a list of some dichotomies that are found in Paul's epistles:
           "in Adam" or "in Christ"
           "under law" or "under grace"
           "darkness" or "light"

It is important to understand a basic dichotomy Paul uses in practically all of his letters-- Jew or Gentile. Although today it is considered politically incorrect to categorize people in any derogatory way, in Paul's day there was a very clear separation between Jew and Gentile. The term "Gentile" is simply a reference to anyone who is not a Jew. Gentiles were considered unclean by Jews. The Jews lived for centuries under the oppression of pagan Gentile nations.

Jews trace their history back to the Old Testament patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Technically, Abraham was not a Jew. People were not called Jews or Gentiles when Abraham was alive. Abraham had a son named Isaac. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations through Isaac. Isaac had a son named Jacob. Jacob's name was later changed to Israel. Jacob had 12 sons whose families grew to become the 12 tribes of Israel. The Old Testament is basically the story of God dealing with the nation of Israel. Jacob's fourth son was named Judah and the term "Jew" comes from the name Judah.

In the first century there was much friction between Jews and Gentiles, which makes Paul's letter to the Romans so interesting. He explains how the coming of Christ changes the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. Next week we will discuss this further.
--Albert Baroody

Since ancient times the Bible has been read aloud to groups of people who were eager to hear the words of Life. We're really no different today. Believers still look to the Bible for wisdom and instruction. We belong in the Word together. Thank you for your participation in these classes. I hope you will pass this email on to others and invite them to attend a Bible study.

Grace and peace,

Sandy Blank

Wednesday Cafe Class (continued)

Romans 3:21-4:6

v. 27 Who can boast about their righteousness? Can they boast because of the law? Paul makes it clear that people are justified by faith in Christ apart from the law. God is not only the God of Jews but also of Gentiles because there is only one God and only one way of being justified. The circumcised (Jews) are justified by faith in Christ and the uncircumcised (Gentiles) are justified by that same faith. There isn't one kind of faith for Jews and a different kind for Gentiles. Paul does not nullify or disparage the law, rather he upholds it. "Uphold" does not mean he's telling people to observe the law as a way to become righteous in the sight of God. Paul simply respects the law for what it was intended to do, that is, show people their sin. Only Christ can save them.

4:1-3 Paul reminds his readers that Abraham was not made righteous by works or by any law but by believing God when He told him He would give him a son. In his teaching about righteousness by faith, why did Paul use Abraham as the example instead of Moses? Because Moses represents only the Israelites who were in a covenant relationship with God. But Abraham represents all who believe, whether they are descendents of Israel or not. Paul's purpose in Romans is to unite Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ, hence, he must go back to a man of faith who lived prior to the Law of Moses-- that man is Abraham.

v. 4-6 Righteousness is a gift. It's not wages that are owed to people who work for it. Next Paul will call two witnesses, Abraham and David, to say that righteousness is a gift from God that is apart from works.

See you next time.

--Sandy Blank

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Thursday Read-to-Believe Class (continued)

Acts 1:1 - 2:147

v. 12-26 They went back to Jerusalem to the upper room where they "joined together constantly in prayer" along with the women and Jesus' mother and brothers. One day Peter got up and quoted Psalms 69 and 109 that prophesied Judas' betrayal and he said it was necessary to choose a man to replace him. They cast lots and Matthias was chosen. It was important that there be 12 apostles.

2:1 "When the day of Pentecost came they were all together" because they were expecting to celebrate the Feast of Weeks which occurred 50 days after the wave offering of the grain harvest. We read Lev. 23:9-21 and saw that the burnt offering associated with the firstfruits was a lamb without defect along with fine flour mixed with oil (bread) and wine.

v. 2-4 While they were all together there was a sound like a violent wind (a sound, not the wind itself) inside the house. Something that looked like tongues of fire separated and rested on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak. They spoke many different languages as the Spirit enabled them.

v. 5-13 Many God-fearing Jews from all over the world were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost celebration. They heard the sound as well and were bewildered because they each heard the apostles talking to them in their own language even though the apostles were all from the same area. Verse 9 shows that they had come from a very large area. They wondered what this meant. But some of them thought the apostles were drunk.

v. 14-21 Peter and the Eleven stood up and Peter gave a speech that convicted the hearers of their rejection of Jesus. He began with Joel 2:28-32 saying that God had prophesied that in the last days He would pour out His Spirit on His servants, both men and women, and they would prophesy. Joel said God would show signs and wonders before the coming of the day of the Lord (the return of Christ) and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

v. 22-24 Peter told them Jesus of Nazareth proved by miracles, signs and wonders that He had been sent by God. Jesus was "handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge" to be put to death. God did not lose control of the situation, nor was Jesus simply overpowered by evil men. Rather, God sent Him for this purpose-- to die for their sins. God also raised Jesus from the dead, never to die again.

v. 25-33 Peter quotes David saying that Psalm 16 is about Jesus dying and not seeing decay (for He was raised after only 3 days). Peter assures them that David died and was still in his tomb. But David was a prophet and knew that God would fulfill His promise that one of David's descendants would sit on his throne. Jesus is a descendant of David. David spoke of the resurrection of Christ from the dead. The apostles were witnesses that this prophecy had been fulfilled. Not only was Christ risen but He'd been exalted to the right hand of God and now has poured His Spirit upon them. This is why they were experiencing the miraculous sign of tongues on that day.

v. 34-36 Again David is quoted as saying "The Lord (God) said to my Lord (Jesus): Sit as my right hand (God's right hand) until I (God) make your (Jesus') enemies a footstool for your (Jesus') feet." Therefore, Peter says God has made Jesus whom they've crucified both Lord (the Lord of the OT) and Christ (the Messiah).

v. 37- 39 So what effect did this have on these God-fearing Jews who were gathered in Jerusalem that day? "They were cut to the heart" and wanted to know what they should do. Peter told them to repent and be baptized. Repent of what? Repent of their unbelief that Christ was who He claimed to be-- the Son of God and their Messiah. Then they were to be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. They would then receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Not only for them in their own generation but for their children and subsequent generations. "For all whom the Lord our God will call."

v. 40-47 Peter warned them with many other words. That day there were about 3,000 people who accepted his message and were baptized. They "devoted themselves" to a) the apostles' teaching, b) the fellowship of believers, c) the breaking of bread, and d) (the) prayers. All were filled with awe and the apostles did many miracles. The believers were all together and shared with one another. They met together every day in the Temple courts praising God. The Lord added to their numbers daily. Keep in mind that these were all Jews who now had faith in Jesus as their Messiah. So far the gospel had not been preached to the Gentiles.

More next time.

--Sandy Blank

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This newsletter is maintained by Sandy Blank (Ph.D. Educational Studies, Biola; MA Biblical Studies, Grace University). If you would like further information about any of her classes or would like to know how to start a Bible study in your area please contact her at sandyblank@theocentrix.org. This newsletter is sponsored by Theocentrix, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting God-centered Bible literacy. Visit www.theocentrix.org for more information.